In a new interview with Reuters, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the White House believes Ukraine must lower its draft age from 25 to 18 to hold out against Russia’s invasion. While admitting that “these are very hard decisions,” Blinken said “getting younger people into the fight” is “necessary.” “Right now, 18- to 25-year-olds are not in the fight," he added.
Without directly mentioning teenagers, NATO chief Mark Rutte recently appeared to endorse a similar argument, telling reporters: "We have to make sure, obviously, also that enough people are available within Ukraine. We need probably more people to move to the front line.”
Blinken told Reuters it is up to the Ukrainian authorities to decide how best to “get younger men into the fight.” So far, officials in Kyiv have resisted American pressure to mobilize younger people, fearing “further demographic decimation” and even greater challenges rebuilding the country after the war.